"Why you don't want to start off your pharmacy technican experience at CVS/Pharmacy"

Although I am done with CVS for good in the process I was able to earn my pharmacy technician license and certification. Sometimes I look back and ask myself was it all worth it in the long run and the answer to that question is “No”. Would I recommend someone go through the process of becoming a certified/registered pharmacy technician? The answer to that question is also “No”.

There are much better career options out there than becoming a pharmacy technician. If you’re really interested in entering the medical field becoming a pharmacy technician is one of the worst ways to do this. You are probably better off sacrificing the time at a 2 year communitycollege (see Obama’s government program to return to community college to earn a degree and learn real skills at www.college.gov ) and earning a degree in a biomedicallaboratory technician, surgical technician, radiology technician or enrolling in a nursing program.

Since there are shortages in these career fields the compensation rates are much better than a pharmacy technicians. Unfortunately pharmacy technicians just starting out or without certification/registration and no experience usually end up working in the retail sector of pharmacy. However, the ideal place for a pharmacy technician is in a hospital setting preferably or in a long term care facility which fills medication on time dosage cards. Currently, I am certified/registered pharmacy technician in the state of Massachusetts.

brown_dude34 in Hyde Park, Massachusetts said: low-pay, injurious gossip, high stress, mind numbing repetitive tasks as well as dealing with angry/rude/sick customers on a daily basis. After a while it takes its toll on you mentally, physically and spiritually. .

I have put in over 20 yrs in the Customer service/telemarketing industry. As most of you know that industry is dead in the US so I became a Pharmacy Tech. I graduated from Los Angeles ORT in Oct 09,had an excellent instructor and I'm in the process of finding my first job. I did my externship at CVS and discovered that the type of person that I will have to deal with will be the same as a customer service caller except that they are on drugs. I can handle it.

I worked at CVS for 12 years, I started when they were the new kids on the block and were interested in haveing good employees and they were interested and valued all their employees not just the pharmacist and pharmacy technicians. Slowly as time progressed and they acquired Eckerds pharmacies their attuded changed, because CVS was now the chain drug store on every block of pinellas county florida. Thus their interest in employees fell below any standard set by any company. Yes gossip and rude customers and less educated pharmacist, and pharmachy DM who believe only what their buddy the pharmacist says is actually the way CVS pharmacy wants their stores to be. The district I worked in (5) is managed by a pharmacy DM who see's the pharmacy techs as pawns in a popularity contest, if you kiss his but, and the pharmacist (PCI) the probability of being one of the players in the game is good. The game consists of targetting 1 tech at a time and the pharmacist and technicians provide abuse, false documentation of errors, your hours are cut back, plus if you make an error it is not brought to your attenshion for weeks until the pharmacy DM comes in and waits in the break room where there is no vidio camera of what is transpiring and presents you with all these terrrable thing you have done. And guess who the DM has as a witness to this policy game he is smiling and grinning about, yes the Pharmacist (PIC). Then after as much humilateshion as the 2 pharmacist can derive from enpuning your dignity, they request you to sign the write-ups, because if you don't you as an employee are sending a bad message to managemant. And if several break room games and talking in the stock room by the back pharmacy door, again where no vidio camera is recording the ordeal and no other witness is there to suppervise, this is what they use to get your to leave with at least 2 weeks notice to them, because they do not want to pay unemployment. WANT TO BE A VICTUM WORK FOR CVS

The most interesting part of reading this forum is reading all complaints lobbed at the retail pharmacies such as Walgreen’s, CVS/Pharmacy, Rite Aid, etc. I call them the “Big 3 Evil Billon Dollar Corporations”, which fail miserably to pay livable wages, provide decent healthcare benefits and a comfortable work environment to the majority of their employees.

You will never see any retail pharmacy on the “Best Places to Work” list. I can guarantee that because retail pharmacy is following the same business model of the “Fast Food Industry”. When is the last time you saw McDonald’s or Burger King, Taco Bell’s on the best places to work list? I am sorry to say this but you won’t, that’s just the way it is and it will not change until retail pharmacy starts losing millions of dollars in mega lawsuits and pharmacy technician mistakes. Due to poor training and working conditions. That is the gamble retail pharmacies are taking so good luck with that scenario.

The corporate heads that run retail pharmacies have one goal and it’s all about making money by cutting costs and increasing profit in everyway they can. Now back to the fast food industry, even though the so called food they serve, which is really “industrialchemical” because the composition of the food has been altered so much a Filet O’ Fish sandwich is really not what its supposed to be.

The fast-food industry has altered the composition of the food with brain addicting chemicals making little more than users/junkies of their customers and that’s what the fast food industry secretly refers to their patrons as. Also, when you end up with high blood pressure and sugar diabetes because of years of consumption of that bad food you run to your doctor, who gives you a prescription for synthetic chemicals which mask the problem and don’t cure the problem.

I worked as the help desk or tech support for cvs caremark for almost 7 years sure we started as EHS then Pharmacare but when you close up your best help desk for one not doing as well as the numbers showed it showed company politics not based on helping the company. also, the pay we got was not even average for our location they have some major issues at cvs caremark.

Today I will be going to work with my two weeks notice in hand to personally deliver it to the pharmacy manager. I am a certified pharmacy technician at CVS who has been abused since starting in June of last year. I previously worked for the Kroger pharmacy, and although it wasnt the best experiance it sure was a heck of a lot better than CVS. As previously stated, I am a certified tech. I am stuck at the register all day and people refuse to rotate. There are many unethical practices going on along with the lead technician dating another tech and together, the two of them assume they are supreme beings and over everyone else. Every tech in the place kisses their butt and its ridiculous; I refuse to do it, so the girlfriend of the lead tech is constantly on my case about any and everything. The pharmacy manager sees whats going on and does nothing about it, and the assistant pharmacist partakes in gossip and constantly talks crap about everyone in the place behind everyone elses back, and frankly I am sick of the drama. I spoke with the district manager about being transfered to another pharmacy and he said he'd call me back but never did. The last straw for me was when my mother needed surgery out of town so I requested a few days off to the pharmacist that makes the schedule. I come back and my hours are cut to 12hrs a week! Also, a tech called me and let me know that my mothers illness was being discussed with everyone. I only get paid 8.50 an hour, I am graduating from college soon and I've finally realized that I dont need this.

Tia in Hampton, Georgia said: Today I will be going to work with my two weeks notice in hand to personally deliver it to the pharmacy manager. I am a certified pharmacy technician at CVS who has been abused since starting in June of last year. I previously worked for the Kroger pharmacy, and although it wasnt the best experiance it sure was a heck of a lot better than CVS. As previously stated, I am a certified tech. I am stuck at the register all day and people refuse to rotate. There are many unethical practices going on along with the lead technician dating another tech and together, the two of them assume they are supreme beings and over everyone else. Every tech in the place kisses their butt and its ridiculous; I refuse to do it, so the girlfriend of the lead tech is constantly on my case about any and everything. The pharmacy manager sees whats going on and does nothing about it, and the assistant pharmacist partakes in gossip and constantly talks crap about everyone in the place behind everyone elses back, and frankly I am sick of the drama. I spoke with the district manager about being transfered to another pharmacy and he said he'd call me back but never did. The last straw for me was when my mother needed surgery out of town so I requested a few days off to the pharmacist that makes the schedule. I come back and my hours are cut to 12hrs a week! Also, a tech called me and let me know that my mothers illness was being discussed with everyone. I only get paid 8.50 an hour, I am graduating from college soon and I've finally realized that I dont need this.

Your story sounds like countless pharmacy technicians who have worked at CVS/Pharmacy.
I used to work at CVS/Pharmacy a few years ago and the same situation you described is common place in many CVS/Pharmacy locations throuhout the U.S.

CVS/Pharmacy = the workplace for entry-level pharmacy technicians, if you want to be abused then apply for a job at CVS/Pharmacy.

Your experience rings very true, however, believe me when I say that Walgreen's is no different at all. Walgreen's has the same atmosphere that you described at CVS. One thing I can add, to all of the above, is the filth that I encountered. The bathroom in the Walgreen's pharmacy, where I completed my externship, looked as if it hasn't been cleaned in years! It was absolutely disgusting!!! I actually would wait until my lunch break and run across the street to use the bathroom at McDonalds!

All I can say is no retail pharmacy is going to treat or pay any pharmacy technicians well. The corporations that run them are not ever going to pay a technician well no matter what certification. All they care is that you get the work done, just use you until you realize nothing is ever going to change and leave. Then they just start the whole process over with a new hire. Nothing will ever change unless pharmacy technicians form a national union and are recognized as an important part of the pharmacy. We actually do most of the work. The pharmacist just went to school for an ungodly amount of time to learn what a computer can tell them now anyway. The are definitely overpaid for the amount of work that they do, it is all about their responsibility. It is a good job to have while looking for another job or going to school for some other career. I worked in retail pharmacy for 7 years and it will never change until the techs have some kind of real representation like carpenters unions or plumber unions or any other service type union. I can honestly say that all the retail chains are not good places to work. The environment seems to be that the good employees end up leaving and the bad employees stay because it is easy and they get paid for really not contributing to the work. It isn't a hard job just the way it is run makes it an extremely stressful job. And that is what makes it not worth little amount of money you get paid. I was offerer 8.50 in salisbury nc to start out and told would get 10.00 if i went and took the national certification which we all know means NOTHING.

I worked for CVS/Eckerd for 16 years! Everything that has been said is completely true! I left because on top of all the stress, I was pregnant and was put on bed rest in the hospital for a month until my daughter was born. No one ever called to check on me to see how things were going. After I had my daughter, no one ever called to say congratulations or anything. I had worked there for 16 years! Talk about not caring for your employees.

Wow, I thought I was all alone in this, but after reading what you guys had to say I now realize that its not me...it's CVS. I just started working for them about 3 months ago (but feels like a lot longer) and ALREADY I'm waiting for the right opportunity to quit...and I'm debating whether I should put in my 2 weeks notice prior to that or just up and leaving...and I'm highly tempted to do the latter just out of spite. Anyways, I am not even certified yet and, I repeat, I've been there for about 3 months doing the same simple yet frustrating tasks over and over again. To be honest I think they're just looking for an excuse NOT to move me forward because that means having to pay me more...and if I may I add by more I mean what I just found out would only be 40 measley cents more, even though I was told it'd go up a dollar right after being hired. And to make matters worse I'm only getting paid $7.40 per hour, which is EXTREMELY underpaid...I swear I'm not lying. Oh, and let me add the fact that I'm living pay check to pay check right now and they drastically cut my hours this week just because another tech who's been there way longer than i have obviously returned from school or wherever she was and now she's picking up all of MY hours. I just feel so unwanted and worthless there...kinda like that "new kid on the block." And I just sense this air of gossip floating around, particularly between the lead tech and one of the pharmacists. Ugh, I cannot wait until leave that job. The plan was to stick around until I got my certification, but I don't think its worth it anymore. I shouldn't be waiting around for them to finally make up their minds because in the meantime I can find a way better job that pays a lot.more than just minimum wage for someone like me with a bachelors degree in biology. I deserve way better than that and so do all of you.

Yes, you do deserve better pay and all the other things that go along with being a Pharmacy Technician CPhT., RPT. Please keep in mind that in the state of Florida you have to acquire 1500 hours working as a pharmacy assistant and learning procedures that are required by law. And I guarantee that the pharmacy staff only use you to cashier, and for being a pharmacy assistant there are 12 modules to be completed before starting your on the job training. Then the PTCB requires math calculations, for prescriptions and IV's, inventory, etc. There is quite a lot of training required for the PTCB Board, Plus state license. And the PTCB must be renewed every 2 years and also the state license. The responsibility that comes alone with this is if a mistake is make in the pharmacy

when i worked for eckerd (now rite aid) if you worked 6 hours and didn't take a lunch the clock took 30 minutes away from your time. If you didn't take your vacation or personal days you lost them. But eckerd never told you this. Most employees had trouble with the company.

Tia in Hampton, Georgia said: Today I will be going to work with my two weeks notice in hand to personally deliver it to the pharmacy manager. I am a certified pharmacy technician at CVS who has been abused since starting in June of last year. I previously worked for the Kroger pharmacy, and although it wasnt the best experiance it sure was a heck of a lot better than CVS. As previously stated, I am a certified tech. I am stuck at the register all day and people refuse to rotate. There are many unethical practices going on along with the lead technician dating another tech and together, the two of them assume they are supreme beings and over everyone else. Every tech in the place kisses their butt and its ridiculous; I refuse to do it, so the girlfriend of the lead tech is constantly on my case about any and everything. The pharmacy manager sees whats going on and does nothing about it, and the assistant pharmacist partakes in gossip and constantly talks crap about everyone in the place behind everyone elses back, and frankly I am sick of the drama. I spoke with the district manager about being transfered to another pharmacy and he said he'd call me back but never did. The last straw for me was when my mother needed surgery out of town so I requested a few days off to the pharmacist that makes the schedule. I come back and my hours are cut to 12hrs a week! Also, a tech called me and let me know that my mothers illness was being discussed with everyone. I only get paid 8.50 an hour, I am graduating from college soon and I've finally realized that I dont need this.

My starting pay was $8.50 last year. After being reviewed for working at CVS for a year and being certified just this year, guess how much CVS raise my current pay? $0.17!!! Yes, you saw it correctly! Total the whole pay and my new page, AFTER certification is $8.67!! YAY!! NOT!! As a matter of fact, I'll be leaving CVS soon for COSTCO and Walgreens .

Hi. I've been reading the comments about working as a pharmacy tech. I have questions that I would like some feedback on. I'm thinking about going back to school to learn to be a pharmacy tech - certified. I'm 59 and can no longer sit behind a desk and keyboard as an export sales coordinator all day long. Feedback and comments please. Thanks. Linda

I AM RESPONDING TO THE PERSON, WHO IS 59 AND CAN NO LONGER SIT BEHIND A DESK TO WORK. i AM 53 YEARS OLD, AND HAVE BEEN A Phamacy Technician for 35 years, CPhT. and state license. I would recomend you consider another line of work other than pharmacy technician, the abuse is not only from the customers, the pharmacist and the pharmacy management team (who are pharmacists) are 100% more abusive than any customer. I have worked in retail, LTC, compounding and hospital and IV's. By far retail is the worst invirement, one reason the pharmacy technician is the lowest man on the totum pole and is subject to the over educated pharmacists who concider them selves the most valuable person working in a retail store. Lets look at their value, the pharmacist is responsible for everything that happens in the pharmacy, and everything a technician does reflects what the pharmacist is doing or not doing. The technician answers the phone, waits on the customers, fills the prescriptions, cleans the pharmacy, empties the garbage, puts away the once a week truck order, types the prescription label, bills the customers insurance, greets the customer at the drop off window, tells the customer the pharmacist will be right with them when needed to be counciled or have a question for the pharmacist, also technicians order the needed medications, keep inventory stock to the proposed level, faxes doctors for refill requests, and medication overrides if the medication is not covered by the customers insurance, restockes the filling station and restocks what the pharmacist needs on their checking station, answers the drive thru window calls, helps the customer with picking up the prescriptions at the pick up window, directs customers to OTC medications they are requestiog. Last by not least stand in front of the pharmacist if a bullet is fired so they are not killed. The only function the pharmacist preforms and is very very important is the final check, of the prescription .

lgd925 in Los Angeles, California said: Hi. I've been reading the comments about working as a pharmacy tech. I have questions that I would like some feedback on. I'm thinking about going back to school to learn to be a pharmacy tech - certified. I'm 59 and can no longer sit behind a desk and keyboard as an export sales coordinator all day long. Feedback and comments please. Thanks. Linda

Hey, Linda! I'm currently a student just working to get some experience; I'm certified through PTCB and is licensed to work in a pharmacy. My word of advice to you: DON'T GO TO PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOL!! IT'S A RIP-OFF!! I can surely assure you that you can go to any pharmacy and they'll still hire you! PLEASE DON'T GO TO PHARMACY SCHOOL! I didn't go, so how was I able to pass the test? Well, let me tell you: I studied through my work's website and some materials online FOR FREE. I can even give you a link FOR FREE OF CHARGE! JUST PLEASE DON'T GO TO A PHARM TECH SCHOOL!!

I had a lady who was an extern (by going to Everest institute) and she's now paying over $15,000 just to be a pharm tech. She told me when some of the retail pharmacies went to Everest and told them "it's a waste of money " and it's a waste of your time,too!

What I suggest you do is:

1.)Let me know if you want the link to study (it has all the necessary info). YOu know what? As a matter of fact, here's the link for you to study.

You just have to know your top 200 drugs (brands and generics), simple calculations (forward and backward), pharmacy laws/rules/regulations, hospital settings, etc.

2.) Go to your nearest public library and borrow a pharm tech study guide. ANY book is fine. Why waste money on even buying a book when you borrow it for free? I borrowed mine at my school's library to study.

3.) STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!

Good luck! Update me on after you take the test or update me on what you're thinking right now!

lgd925 in Los Angeles, California said: Hi. I've been reading the comments about working as a pharmacy tech. I have questions that I would like some feedback on. I'm thinking about going back to school to learn to be a pharmacy tech - certified. I'm 59 and can no longer sit behind a desk and keyboard as an export sales coordinator all day long. Feedback and comments please. Thanks. Linda

I'm not in pharmacy school yet,but everything Eileen (comment below your comment) is true. There are certain places that make you hate pharmacists,but there are other pharmacists who don't look down on those who "knows" (have a knowledge of what you know what you're doing.

I've worked at different locations at CVS and all I can say is, I love my homestore (I was first hired there:).

YOu just have to watch out for those pharmacists who make you count tablets all the time. I've met some pharmacists who won't even touch a counting tray, except for verification. They gossipped about other ppl, they even violated the HIPPA law. I'm not going to name names here,but you just have to know that being certified DOES get you recognized. A pharmacist I worked with last month at a different CVS store was impressed that I was EVEN CERTIFIED. YOu know how they "knew?" I boasted, of course, not in haughty way,but you just gotta give hints.

So long story short, follow my advices and you'll thank me later. If you truly enjoy pharmacy, any difficulties or hurdles will get you through regardless or stupid customers who talks to much, yells/curse at your, etc. Enjoy your income and ignore those who do that (aka the BAD customers). I actually cursed at them when they fuss at me (only in my head) LOL. That makes me feel better.

DenaDina in Elk Grove, California said: Your experience rings very true, however, believe me when I say that Walgreen's is no different at all. Walgreen's has the same atmosphere that you described at CVS. One thing I can add, to all of the above, is the filth that I encountered. The bathroom in the Walgreen's pharmacy, where I completed my externship, looked as if it hasn't been cleaned in years! It was absolutely disgusting!!! I actually would wait until my lunch break and run across the street to use the bathroom at McDonalds!

I definitely agree with this post. I just quit walgreens 4 months ago. I worked pharm tech and everyone in the pharmacy was nasty and racist. I complained and they put me cashier, but they woudlnt let me take breaks even though I had to use the restroom. The manager said that they dont allow bathroom breaks. I was the only cashier in the store and it stayed busy-like constantly a like of 4 people. They woudln't let me go to photo because there were racist people working back there. The store managers were either racist or very rude. The bathrooms were filthy, and Walgreens was a hel*hole.

lgd925 in Los Angeles, California said: Hi. I've been reading the comments about working as a pharmacy tech. I have questions that I would like some feedback on. I'm thinking about going back to school to learn to be a pharmacy tech - certified. I'm 59 and can no longer sit behind a desk and keyboard as an export sales coordinator all day long. Feedback and comments please. Thanks. Linda

My response is that you will be in hel*. First off, you do not need to go to school to be a pharm tech. Second, you will be paid 8 dollars an hour. Third, you will do all the work while everyone "whips" you like a slave. This is the life of a PT at Walgreens or cvs.

Wow! I must be lucky then. I work with an amazing staff. The two pharmacists I work with are so sweet and have helped me greatly. I am a young mother of one, working part-time, and going to school. They do their best to keep their employees happy. I have worked their for exactly 2 years. I suggest anyone who want to become a tech to start at a small store. Like I do.

brown_dude34 in Hyde Park, Massachusetts said: Personally, I have never read a post regarding working at CVS/Pharmacy as a positive experience. In my opinion the majority of pharmacy technicians who work at CVS/Pharmacy go there in order to gain 1 – 2 years of experience(that’s if they last that long ) and then they become certified the smart ones check out of CVS/Pharmacy and go work in a hospital or long term care facility.

The main reason for this that as an employee of CVS/Pharmacy or any other retail chain pharmacy are faced with the absolutes of working in the retail pharmacy environment which are low-pay, injurious gossip, high stress, mind numbing repetitive tasks as well as dealing with angry/rude/sick customers on a daily basis. After a while it takes its toll on you mentally, physically and spiritually.

By this I mean you can only grin and bear it for so long. Think about standing on your feet all day and shuffling around to different workstations within the pharmacy within a 6 -8 hour period. In my opinion and my personal observations the pharmacists in CVS/pharmacy were there to verify prescriptions at $42.00 - $60.00 an hour, spew injurious gossip, belittle pharmacy technicians/interns/associates.

As a pharmacy technician in training with CVS/Pharmacy you will start out at $10.00 in most cases in Boston, MA. However, if you’re a certified pharmacy technician it’s possible to negotiate a starting rate of $12.00 -$13.00 an hour. There must be some unwritten code among CVS/pharmacists to make your life as a pharmacy technician extremely stressful and difficult as possible. In my short stint I had to tolerate one to many ingrate pharmacists some I reported to CVS management because they weren’t promoting a harmonious working environment.

I work for CVS and I a fall short of 10 dollars an hour try under 9. I work long shifts 10-12 hours. My pharmacist treats me badly and she plays favorites among her techs.

CVS is the worse company I have worked for. I have been working for them for 3 years and I have not gotten a penny raise even though I do my job very well, quickly and efficiently. I stand on my feet all day long, run from here to there, deal with customers who are extremely rude, liars, think they should get everything for free and right then and there. We are always short staffed so some of us have to do the jobs of two people. Running from Drive Thru to Drop Off 1 or Pick up 1 to Production 1. They act like we don't get to use the bathroom or if we say we have to go they tell us to hurry up and run. We never get lunch breaks and if we say we're gonna take a break they make a big deal or ask us to wait and then we never get to take it, so we end up living off Red Bull and chips. They expect us to be robots, and we get no praise if we do great jobs or work on our days off or stay longer than scheduled. I have a fellow tech who has been at this store for 15 years, FIFTEEN YEARS, and she really only knows how to run a cash register, doesn't know how to do insurancebilling, put things in QI, she doesn't even know how to send a fax, she asks every time how to do it. 9 and then 1 and the fax number. I am honestly not exaggerating when I say these things. She should be our go to woman, she should be lead tech, instead she is our Pick Up 1 everday. And the current Bi Annual module, she is getting someone else to do for her because she can't pass it. I don't know how she has been getting away with her performance and lack of knowledge. They recently allowed her to just stand by the pick up and make pcq calls and that's it. She makes more money than most, she had been there the longest, and yet she gets away with everything and has gotten her job made easier recently. She gets her raise every year and back pay when it doesn't go through ASAP but I have been there for 3 years and have not gotten a single penny increase, except the spare change I find on the floor.

Idk, what cvs pharmacy you guys worked for but the one I work for is NOTHING like how you are describing it to be, we get breaks, it doesnt take long to get certified, its a pleasant experience....very busy but its expected. the owner is involved, he visits the pharmacy on a regular. my coworkers are great, there is no verbal abuse by the pharmacist at all. our 2pharmacist that we have are actually very helpful, when i was being trakned, it was at a different store. the classes are helpful. and the online courses are also. i like that if you are unsure about anything you can always refer back to recent courses through learnet. as far as making a career out of pharm. technician i know a couple techs. who have been with cvs for about 5+years. i guess it depends where and who your working with. pharm. tech was just a job i applied for and got hired. if anything comes from it...wondrful..if not at least i have a paycheck. i am already in school for my career anyway.

You're probably being honest about your experience. You probably are new to CVS since you refer to your boss as the "owner", that person is probably the Pharmacy Supervisor/District Manager/Store Manager. They do not own the store, the store is part of a large chain of stores owned by stockholders and executives who own shares of the company. I can only assume that your store isn't very busy, your script count is probably under 2000 per week, and the majority of the work is taken off your hands by the other workers(you may or may not have noticed this). In my district, breaks are mandatory, meaning, you HAVE to sign out for 30 minutes so that they can see you've been away for that amount of time as per labor laws, but realistically we're still working in the pharmacy. If you do not sign out, they will remove the time from your paycheck and falsify the permitted break by putting the "break-time" in. Every description I've read about working at CVS on this forum has happened to me, from lying customers to gossiping store managers. The worst of it all is that the company wants you to falsify filled script counts by filling refills that customers did not order. Many times, I've been told by customers that the medication that we refilled was no longer being taken by them because their doctor took them off the drug due to an adverse effect they had or allergic reaction that occurred. PCQ calls do this also because the higher-ups want to boost the script count. I hear Rite Aid has been starting the PCQ system as well. In general, retail pharmacy is terrible, leave if you can, and if you want to enter the business, don't.

for those of you that were "grandfathered" in to pharmacy and received your tech license- what do you put for your education of resumes and job apps? I am struggling with looking like i actually had schooling- and am legit. It looks so dumb just putting 'pharmacy training center'. really the only bad part of not 'paying' for my schooling.
also- i am state registered (16 years as a PT) but not certified. i am trying to get into a hospita setting and most are requiring IV knowledge (worked retail- no knowledge) and certification. is it worth getting certified and what is the best and least expensive way to do so?
i am returning back to work (at least trying to but no one wants to hire) after a 2 yr hiatus. i previously worked for Longs drugs (bought out in 09 by CVS) for 16 years.

I actually graduated from a pharmacy tech program last year October, and I recently got hired at an independent pharmacy, which is starting me off at 8.50/hr... not to mention that I'm certified. And get this, when I become registered, the pharmacy manager said she raise me to 9.50. Really? At Walgreens, if you're not certified they start you off at 10.00. And when I'm certified and registered, Im only gonna be making $9.50? Retail is just ridiculous. I'm hoping and praying for a hospital job. But sooner or later, I'm just gonna change careers.

The job market is difficult to say the least, and with unemployment still sky rocketing it will remain that way for a while. What employers do not take into consideration is the fact that employees do not forget the bad treatment and no breaks, cut hours, that they exspect us to tolerate while they continue their daily work schedule with benefits and no loss ow wages or healthinsurance. Some day soon the tide will turn and Pharmacy Technicians that work for large chain drug stores will have the oppertunity to return the favor and leave for the benefits and perks they should have been getting. I would not even give notice, leagally you do not have to and they cannot give you a poor reference because you use the corporate address for other employers to call and the line is recorder and all they can legally verify is that you worked for then from A to B cant say why you left with or with out notice. I believe in giving as good as I get, so keep looking for that better job you will find it, then you will be able to give as good as you got!

The job market is difficult to say the least, and with unemployment still sky rocketing it will remain that way for a while. What employers do not take into consideration is the fact that employees do not forget the bad treatment and no breaks, cut hours, that they exspect us to tolerate while they continue their daily work schedule with benefits and no loss ow wages or healthinsurance. Some day soon the tide will turn and Pharmacy Technicians that work for large chain drug stores will have the oppertunity to return the favor and leave for the benefits and perks they should have been getting. I would not even give notice, leagally you do not have to and they cannot give you a poor reference because you use the corporate address for other employers to call and the line is recorder and all they can legally verify is that you worked for then from A to B cant say why you left with or with out notice. I believe in giving as good as I get, so keep looking for that better job you will find it, then you will be able to give as good as you got!

lgd925 in Los Angeles, California said: I'm thinking about going back to school to learn to be a pharmacy tech - certified. I'm 59 and can no longer sit behind a desk and keyboard as an export sales coordinator all day long.

I will be 59 next month and developed dependent edema in my lower extremities as a result of sitting several hours each day processing data for years. Now, as a pharmacy technician extern (I'm in my second week of on-the-job training, having completed a classroom course), I stand for 8 hours per day. At the end of a day, my back aches and my feet throb. "Techs don't sit," is what I was told by my Lead Tech. Really? It's not about functionality; it's about class distinction, pure and simple. The techs and the pharmacists are being set up as opponents for the amusement of the capitalists. If this sounds kind of left-wing to you, you're not alone. It sounds that way to me too--and I'm the one writing it!

I'm not a political animal. My maternal grandfather helped to found one of the worlds's first labor unions and the rest of my family is staunchly pro-union. I could take or leave it, being autistic and thus marginalized by the unions as well as the anti-union workers. But when you look at how the rich people who own these companies pit the pharmacists and the technicians against one another to control both groups for their own dark purposes, you begin to understand why labor unions were founded in the first place. It is amazing that so many people who enjoy such benefits as a protected minimum wage, higher wages for overtime, employer-provided healthinsurance and retirement pensions, and insurance for periods of disability and unemployment see fit to bad-mouth the unions. Who do they think created the Department of Labor and OSHA? The unions, did--that's

Thankfully, my supervising pharmacists are amazing. They both take time to teach the new techs, like me, and aren't rude when we make mistakes. But they push us, too. My first week I learned production, and a little of drop off. Oh, and I started at 11.00. Sundays with time and a half, 16.

We can get completely slammed, because we're located by a major college, but we still push through. Yes, the customers suck. They're rude, they're unfriendly, and they will try and walk all over you if you let them (I personally don't take that ish). But you know what? At the end of the day, I'm not going home to them. I have a life outside of my lab coat. But you know, some customers are amazing. Some can just come in, and sweep away all of the negativity away, just because they crack a horrible joke, or compliment you on your earrings. Some will even sympathize with you, because the a**hole that was before them called you an incompetent a**, and stormed off. Those people, the genuine, nice, maybe a bit nutty, make my day.

One thing that I will agree on is that techs shouldn't have to deal with rude, or obnoxious pharmacists. If the customers are causing you stress, fine. Get over it. But if it's a colleague? Someone you work with? That's a different story. I know I wouldn't be able to stay either.

I admit, I haven't been in the field long. I'm around 600/700 hours now and am about to take my state exam. I don't plan on being at CVS long term...because I don't really like people, lol, but I am using it as a stepping stone. They're paying for my state, and national test. I'm getting the experience I need to get a better job. And I'm not paying a thing for schooling.

I'm experiencing most of what has been written here, except I work with many wonderful pharmacists. I'm a CPhT, and working retail for the 1st time (I've worked in hospital pharmacy for 3 years prior), and would say to all new pharm techs to seek positions in hospitals if possible. In Oklahoma one not need national certification (compared to Texas) in order to obtain their state licensure, which means the pay stinks (I receive only a $1/hour more than the pharmacy clerks). Retail is extremely stressful, and when your store's script count is 2500+/week, and generally there is only 1 or (at most) 2 techs with 1 pharmacist, it's maddening. If you're interested in the medical field, I'd say try radiologic tech, or perhaps nursing...The pay is better, and your employer will care.

I have an Associates in Science and I passed my PTCE in Sept of 2011. I moved to Florida because i've always wanted to live in Florida. Since i've been here i cant find a job as a pharmacy tech. I had an interview with CVS in West Palm Beach and everything was going good. The hiring manager was cool but the pharmacist acted like she had a problem with me. She wouldnt even recognize me as a pharmacy tech. She told me that i wasnt a pharmacy tech and that i had to complete training through them to become a pharmacy tech at the base pay of 7.75 if i'm not mistaken. I was a lil upset about what CVS was offering to pay me so I talked to the hiring manager and she had let me know that she was waiting for a reply from the supervising manager, whom she had emailed, on what to pay me because I have no experience in the pharmacy but I have an Associate In Science and I'm a nationally certified tech. She had let me know that she had never came across that before and that usually people who apply have experience and no degree or certification. She also told me twice that if i was to be hired that i would get paid 8.00 an hour since that is what everyone started out with if they had to do training so of course when i heard that i felt something fishy was going on in regards to what the pharmacist at CVS was willing to allow me to be paid working in her presence. Now dont get me wrong, I was willing if push came to shove to work for the 7.75 but i just didnt feel it was fair giving the fact that through the help of Jesus, I obtained a degree and national certification and the pharmacist was just looking over it like it was nothing all because i dont have any experience in a pharmacy setting. Which by the way is what i'm trying to obtain before i try to go back to college and become a pharmacist if its GOD's will, which i hope so. With that all being said, i ended up not getting the job. I was told they found someone else smh. Oh well. GOD will make a way for me. =)

I received my PTCB certification in September, and I haven't gotten any call backs from any of the retail chains. I just bought the books and studied on my free time, so thankfully I didn't have to pay a school to get certified. But from what I read regarding the retail setting, I'm beginning to think it's better if I just look for another job, and go into a nursing program. I can't live off $10 an hr, and I don't mind doing all the work that a tech needs to do, but verbal abuse is something I will not put up with from co-workers, no matter what their title is. Does anyone know how to get your foot in the door in a hospital setting? They obviously require experience, but you have to start somewhere. I'm just curious if anyone has any tips?

There seems to be alot of unsatisfied people here, personally, I would of found another place to work, theres several options for technicians, given your location. If not, then if your able to, move. Quit complaining and be thankful you have a job. I started out as a customer service rep for Caremark, before they became CVS Caremark. I was going to school for something in finance, when pharmacology piqued my interest. I went to a local college to get my pharm tech certificate and stayed on at caremark, I worked filling mail orders, to working as a tech on the phones. I made around 15.75. I am still in school, going to UTSA for my bachelors in chemistry, to use to help me get into a PharmD program. I also got in on a project at the southwest research institute working on a clinical study that will pay 18.00. Like I said, plenty of money and different types of positions avbl for pharm techs if you look for it

CVS has the worst human resources employees ever!!! i called to ask if they could do anything for a damaged check and the first thing this guy asks for is my employee number and FULL social security number, before I can even get a word in. as soon as i say that last digit in my social security number he hangs up on me!!! i call back and ask if i should be worried about that and a lady ignores my questions and just starts asking for my employee 7 digit number and LAST 4 social security numbers. i tell her LAST4 and she continually kept asking me question and when i didn't hear one and asked her to repeat it. she starts rudely yelling each word every 5 seconded like i wasn't comprehensible. after giving her 5 minutes worth of information she says she will call me back to see if i can get a new check(I assume). she then angrily and rudely asks if she can help with anything else so i ask if i should be worried about my full social security being handed out and she claimed that i had never previously called (according to her records) and said have a nice day and hung up. My phone showed that I called the exact same h&r number minutes before. i would have blown up on her if i knew i was done with this paycheck complicated compensation. I’ve never dealt with such a rude person in my life. Its almost like they want to make calling in not even worth the compensation despite me and everyone else calling is the only reason they have job. This lady was giving the exact opposite of what is expected from CVS employees on all levels. As soon as I go into work tomorrow I am quitting . I NEVER WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT KIND OF MANTALITY EVER AGAIN.

First Location: After 3 days working as a pharm tech, I was getting bullied, insulted in front of co-workers, and singled-out by a clique of pharmacists and pharm techs. Plus, I was not trained very well, if not at all. I stood up to the main person who was doing most of the bad stuff and then reported all the incidents to the store manager. After that, for 3 days the guy left me alone, but then the rest of the clique basically picked up where they left off all because I stood up to their friend. After 2 weeks I already thought about transferring. They were just looking for the perfect opportunity to get rid of me, and unfortunately that opportunity came to them when I made a big mistake. The pharmacist basically told me to take a hike, but then that evening one of the clique members texted me to come to work the next day. I professionally told her off, then reported everything to the Pharmacy Tech Trainer and Pharmacy District Manager. Apparently the pharmacist was reprimanded for the way he handled things, because the Pharmacy District Manager was wanting me to still work there. No thanks buddy.

Second Location: Staff is very pleasant, accommodating, and helpful. The only bad experience I had there was when one of the pharmacists wrongfully blamed me for a lady getting another person's medication, when it was actually her (the pharmacist's) fault.

Third Location: Staff loves to gossip, they're kind of fun to be around, but some of the techs liked to blame me for stuff I never did, which was my number one pet peeve. They were playing games, so I learned to play games too: whenever I caught them doing a mistake, I called them out on it.

brown_dude34 in Hyde Park, Massachusetts said: Personally, I have never read a post regarding working at CVS /Pharmacy as a positive experience.

I like working at CVS pharmacy. My pharmacist is polite, and listens to me--the higher-ups overwork us, but I like the fast pace, and I enjoy the interaction with people. I like the schedule in retail, and I'm getting a lot of good experience. The job leaves me enough time to continue with my writing, and it's interesting. Maybe 'cuz I work in Virginia, and we're nicer in Virginia? I have no idea. But I was surprised by your experience.

omg! i thought i was the only one with this problem i am so thankful for you guys. I just started working at cvs in may of this year (2012) now i have what like 3 months working here & i still feel like i havent advanced i mean at first it was exciting that i was finally employed and what not but now its totally not how it seemed at first sure they have these online courses and on the job training at different stores but how they expect us to remember that or get used to it if we can't even do it on our homestore?! And how i believe someone already mentioned the only thing they have put me to since i got here is pick up & that is it. From time to time production & drop off (but since im not much trained for all this insurance & claims & whatnot I often find myself being stuck & if i ask for help the PIC just replaces me with another tech with more experience & has obviously been there long enough . . . so how am i supposed to learn? -_-) Also like i just read above on one comment the coworkers are not all that friendly esp one in particular that is really getting on my nerves! I mean for every little thing i do she has something to say and once in awhile if not all the time i can hear her gossip about me and suddenly i am the center of attn/amusement and everyone starts to laugh and whatnot she/they think i cannot hear them but i hear everything that they are saying about me sometimes i ignore them but sometimes it is very difficult & just yesterday I made a bad mistake that yes I admit i should of been more attentive but unfortunately i wasn't at the moment . . . anyway so this particular girl notices and then she starts telling the pharmacists & then i hear them all laughing then the pharmacist does not tell me anything but he is giving me this look as if to say give up already you're stupid & incompetent or something like that honestly it is stressful & of course like its been mentioned before the customers don't make it any easier so my question is how do they

expect us to learn or advance if they do not give us such opportunity or take the time to teach us? I really need answers and sad to say LOTS OF HELP!!! D: If someone could please help me I would really much appreciate it

i most def. do not recommend in becoming a pharmacy tech. & @ worthless servant I feel exactly like that isn't that just depressing? like really you would think that they would be more professional like but no they are worse than when i worked at a restaurant not as professional but the workers well much more behaved and willing to help each other out & respected each other & everyone was part of the team here you are only part of the team if you are good & at a fast moving pacing or in other words have experience therefore i'm not even taken into consideration everyone talks to each other except me I am always left alone at the pick up register or wherever i might be unless someone realizes that I am there and want me to do something for them (minor things really) I try my best to catch up but honestly I feel that no matter how hard i try nothing will change. They see me as a pest >:/ I am getting really annoyed do you know what i should do so that they notice me & to show them that I am not stupid how they think i am? or should i just find a different job and quit? idk I need your advice

So glad I found this. I'm currently on the fence about quitting my job at a CVS Pharmacy, but I've only been there two months. I'm "training" to be a Pharmacy Tech. At first I thought the training was helpful. Customer service and how the computer system works, etc. That was until I actually started working. They barely skim the surface of how to use their computer system. They say nothing about how each insurance is different and a pain in the butt to get to work, all while the customer is tapping their toe at you taking a while (not your fault! Adding a third party is very complicated!) and your Pharmacist is sighing and telling a more experienced person to take over for you. If you start at a fast paced store like I did, then be prepared for times when you just want to cry. Your pharmacist will be putting you in positions you've barely trained at, like at production, and expecting you to fly through like all of the other experienced employees. There is no way that I can know all couple hundred medications, the generic name, and where they are in my fast vs slow organized store. But my pharmacist and fellow coworkers are tired of telling me where they are. SO I look it up in a huge book instead and wander around desperately trying to find it as quickly as possible because we now have 12 freaking pages of production and 5 waiters. Oh and the phone is ringing, so I better answer that too cause everyone else is just as busy, but they're actually getting somewhere cause THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. Once it finally calms down I get told off by my pharmacists cause I apparently made the whole busy situation worse by not being fast enough. I was mentally writing my two weeks notice then. But seriously, how can I learn the medications when I am only put on production about once a week for 2 hours??

In summary, just know what you're getting yourself into. I sure didn't. Your coworkers will help you in the beginning, but once it gets busy you can only talk to the pharmacist. Who may be okay with helping you when it's slow, but once it's busy you better not have any questions and get everything done, quickly quickly quickly. And perfectly. Make any mistakes and you get told off for it in a very rude manner. I've been called a moron and handicapped just in the past two days. Sarcasm abound and forget about getting any patience from the Pharmacist. It's an intriguing job that I loved learning, but I have a lot to learn and they don't care, so I'm looking for a new job. No one deserves that abuse when they're only failing due to a lack of training.